Tube closure

ABSTRACT

A closure for a tube which need not be removed for releasing the contents of the tube associated with an original condition protection means. A closure cap is provided and mounted upon the tube in rotational engagement therewith and it contains an opening which may be aligned in a registry with the opening of the tube to allow the dispensing of the contents thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to closures for tubes and, moreparticularly, to a tube closure using a spherical element.

2. History of the Prior Art

There are many known closures or closure caps for tubes or similarcontainers with original condition protection means, such as, forexample, the following patents: EP A2 460 557 and EP A1 459 941.Further, there are known tube closures which need not be completelyunscrewed or pulled off in order to enable the content of the tube to besqueezed out. In the case of such known solutions, the closure, whichhas a hole in the center, is screwed on by one or more rotations. Indoing so, the edge of said hole lifts off a pin, which closes it afterit is screwed on. This opens an annular gap through which the contentsof the tube, or of the container in general, runs out or is activelysqueezed out.

If only small quantities were to be taken from the tube, then thissolution was not found to be acceptable because, in the case of a salveor a cream exiting from an annular opening a tube forms having a shapeof little stability and, therefore, permitting no clear determination asto the amount having exited. The disadvantage of most of the knownclosures intended to preserve the original condition, (the two citedEuropean patent applications are representative for a large number ofsimilar solutions ), lies mainly in their spatial complexity. Some ofthem provide predetermined rupture links of a sometimes very complexnature, and some require that original condition protection strings aretorn or stretched, making it necessary to assemble the closure fromseveral very complicated parts. This requires either several or verycomplicated molded parts, which make the product expensive. The problemto be solved with the present invention is the creation of a closure fortubes or soft plastic bottles, which needs not be fully unscrewed toallow the contents to be squeezed out, and which can be connected in asimple way with a closure preserving the original condition.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a tube closure. More particularly, oneaspect of the invention relates to a closure for a tube which need notbe removed for releasing the contents of the tube. The tube is formedwith a shoulder which becomes narrower in the direction of the tube neckto which shoulder in the region neck has a cam attached. The tube neckhas an exterior collar which is closed at its face except for aneccentrically disposed opening. In the face of the tube neck a memberconsisting of at least one spherical segment is present, which isdisplaced relative to the opening by a predetermined angle. A closurecap is utilized and the closure cap is divided into an inner cylindricalpart, an exterior, essentially cylindrical part, and an upper closureplate. An angular groove and collar are shaped in such a way that theclosure cap can be pressed over the tube neck, thus stretching the innercylindrical part of the closure cap. The closure plate contains anopening which, in one position of the closure cap, will be located abovethe member which consists of at least one spherical element and which isshaped in such a way that it is closed by this member and then a closureplate has at the lower edge of its essentially cylindrical portion arecess which, by means of the cam, is positioned at the shoulder andwhich is so wide that the closure cap can be turned through an anglewhile the cam limits its rotation in either side.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention and forfurther objectives and advantages thereof, reference may now be had tothe following detailed description when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings herein:

FIGS. 1a and 1b illustrate a first embodiment of the present inventionshown as a cross section in FIG. 1a and a top plan view in FIG. 1b;

FIG. 2 illustrates a phantom presentation of the first embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 3a and 3b illustrate a second embodiment of the present inventionshown as a section and a plan view; and

FIGS. 4a and 4b illustrate a third embodiment of the present inventionshown as a section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The first embodiment is shown in FIG. 1a as a side elevational, crosssection of the invention and in FIG. 1b as a top plan view thereof. Thetube body 1 has joined to it, for example, by welding--a shoulder 2which narrows toward the top into a tube neck 7. The tube neck 7 has acollar 4. A closure cap 3 is divided into outer and inner concentriccylindrical parts 8 and 9, respectively, and a closure plate 10. Theinner cylindrical part 9 fits with limited clearance onto tube neck 7and contains an annular groove 5. Collar 4 and annular groove 5 areshaped in such a way that closure cap 3 can be readily--by stretchinginterior cylindrical portion 9--pushed upon the neck of tube 7 so that aremoval of closure cap 3 is no longer possible without destroying it.Tube neck 7 is closed except for an eccentrically located opening 6. Inthe position shown of closure cap 3, opening 6 of closure plate 10 canbe tightly closed. Naturally, the external configuration of closure cap3 need not be of the shape shown, but can be given, relative to closureplate 10, a planar, convex or concave shape; further, the transition ofclosure plate 10 to outer cylindrical part 8 can be a gradual one; also,outer cylindrical part 8 need not have a truly cylindrical shape:polygonal shapes are just as conceivable, making it a question of tasterather than a technical one.

In tube neck 7 there is, also eccentrically positioned, offset by anangle relative to opening 6, but at the same distance from the axis oftube neck 7. Integrally molded to the tube neck 7 is a cylinder 11 whichis closed at the bottom and open at the top and which contains a ball 13pushed toward the top by a helical spring 12. Ball 13 is movable incylinder 11 with some clearance and closes--in the position according toFIGS. 1a and 1b--an opening 14 in closure cap 3[, which]. The opening 14preferably has the shape of segmented spherical shells.

If a portion of the contents of the tube is to be removed, then closurecap 3 is rotated by an angle α. At the same time, closure plate 10pushes ball 13 downward against the resistance of helical spring 12;opening 13 in closure cap 3 winds up resting upon opening 6; and thecontent of the tube can be removed. After it is rotated back to theoriginal position according to FIGS. 1a and 1b, ball 13 once againcloses opening 14, and remaining portions of the content of the tube canbe cleanly removed from the ball with one's finger.

The restriction of the rotatability of closure cap 3 to the selectedangle α is effected by the joint action of a cam 15, which is formed asa part of shoulder 2, and a lateral recess 16 at the outer cylindricalportion 8 of closure cap 3. Recess 16 is thus wide enough that, in viewof the width of cam 15, it permits rotation of screw cap 3 through angleα. The parts designated by numbers 17 to 20 will be explained inconnection with FIG. 2.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a phantom view in perspective ofthe embodiment according to FIGS. 1a and 1b. In the cavity betweenshoulder 2 and cylindrical parts 8 and 9 of FIG. 1a, a ring 17 has beeninserted. The ring 17 is connected by means of a strip 19 and anintended rupture link 18 to a piece of cloth 20 located outside closurecap 3. Rupture link 18 lies immediately inside recess 16. The dimensionsof the piece of cloth 20 are greater than the width of recess 16. Thethickness of the material of this original condition protection means,consisting of the parts numbered from 17 to 20, corresponds preferablyto the height of recess 16. Piece of cloth 20 can, for example, bemarked with the price, product information and the date after which itshould not be used. The closure cap 3 cannot be turned without tearingoff the rupture link 18, and the closure cap 3 cannot be severed fromthe tube without the use of force and the destruction of the closure cap3.

The embodiment described has the effect that strip 19, after piece ofcloth 20 is torn off--thus after damaging the original conditionprotection means--does not hinder the rotation of closure cap 3.Further, it is not possible to push piece of cloth 20 back into recess16 in order to feign an intact original condition.

In an alternative to FIG. 2 not shown, ring 17 is so large that rupturelink 18 is positioned between the outer edge of ring 17 and piece ofcloth 20 removing the need for the strip 19.

The original condition protection means shown in FIG. 2 is preferablymade of cardboard. This permits cost-effective manufacturing, printingon it without problems and easy integration during the closure process.

Referring now to FIG. 3a and FIG. 3b, there is shown a second embodimentof the present invention. In the place of ball 13 of FIG. 1, there isnow a spherical part 21, which is connected at its face to the end oftube neck 7 by way of an annular spring link 22, produced in the sameinjection mold. The other parts and configurations correspond to thoseof FIGS. 1 and 2. When turning closure cap 3, spherical part 21 ispressed downward against yielding spring link 22.

Parts 17 to 20 which make up the original condition protection means,are the same in FIGS. 3a and 3b as in FIGS. 4a and 4b, and are notdescribed any further.

A further embodiment is shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b. Here, the end of tubeneck 7 has at its face, without any reduction of wall thickness, aprotrusion in the form of spherical segment 23. Closure plate 10 isthinner at its central portion 24 than the rest of closure plate 10.When closure cap 3 is turned, then closure plate 10, in region 24, isdisplaced toward the top until spherical segment 23 snaps into aspherical recess 25 in region 24 of closure plate 10. This recess 25 isalso displaced by an angle α relative to opening 14 in closure cap 3, sothat spherical segment 23 snaps into place in recess 25 while closurecap 3 is in the same position as during the release of opening 6 in tubeneck 7 through opening 14 in closure cap 3.

The advantages of the embodiments described are primarily that the tubeprovided with the closure according to the invention remains essentiallyclosed. The small remainder of the contents of the tube which remains inopening 14 of closure cap 3 after the quantity that was squeezed out,for example, was removed with a finger, is extruded after closure cap 3was turned back, by ball 13, spherical segment 21 or spherical part 23from opening 14, and can be wiped off. No unhygienic and unappetizingagglomerations of dried-out or spoilt contents of the tube accumulateeither at the opening of the tube or at the cover of the tube;furthermore, the contents of the tube can neither be contaminated nordry out. Because no cover is removed, it cannot be put away or lost, norcan it fall to the floor. Neither the content of the tube nor theinterior of the cover can ever come in contact with contaminants. Thisis of special importance, because the longer it is, the morepreservative and bacteriostatic additives to the tube contents can bedispensed with.

By adaptation of the size of opening 14 and ball 13 closing it, orspherical parts 21, 23, the tube closure in accordance with theinvention is suitable for any application or contents.

It is thus believed that the operation and construction of the presentinvention will be apparent from the foregoing description. While themethod and apparatus shown or described has been characterized as beingpreferred, it will be obvious that various changes and modifications maybe made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed:
 1. A device for the closure of a tube having a shoulderconnected to a tube neck, said tube neck having an opening disposed at aselect eccentric distance from the center of the tube neck, said devicecomprising:a cam attached to said shoulder of said tube; an exteriorcollar disposed around the outside of said tube neck; a closure capincluding:an inner cylindrical part having an annular groove, said innercylindrical part rotatably engaging said tube neck and said annulargroove of said inner cylindrical part rotatably engaging said exteriorcollar, wherein said tube neck, said collar, said inner cylindricalpart, and the annular groove of said inner cylindrical part are shapedsuch that the inner cylindrical part can be pressed over the tube neckuntil said collar engages the annular groove of said inner cylindricalpart but said inner cylindrical part cannot be retracted from said tubeneck and said collar without destroying said inner cylindrical part; anupper closure plate attached to said inner cylindrical part and havingan opening located at the same eccentric distance from the center ofsaid tube neck as the opening in said tube neck; and an outercylindrical part attached to said upper closure plate, said outercylindrical part having a recess disposed over said cam, wherein saidouter cylindrical part engages said cam when the opening in said upperclosure plate aligns with the opening in said tube neck and when theopening in said upper closure plate is at a select rotation angle fromthe opening in said tube neck; and means for engaging the opening insaid upper closure plate of said closure cap, said means for engagingbeing located on said tube neck to engage said opening in said closurecap when said opening in said closure cap is positioned at the selectrotated angle from the opening in said tube neck.
 2. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein said tube neck includes a cylindricalrecess, and wherein said means for engaging includes a spring disposedin the cylindrical recess of said tube neck and which forces a ballupwardly against the upper closure plate of said closure cap, whereinsaid ball engages the opening in said upper closure plate of saidclosure cap when said opening in said closure cap is positioned at theselect angle from the opening in said tube neck in which said camcontacts said outer cylindrical part of said closure cap.
 3. The deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein said means for engaging comprises:aspherical part; and an annular spring link contacting said tube neck andsaid spherical part, said annular spring link forcing said sphericalpart against said upper closure plate; and wherein said spherical partengages the opening in said upper closure plate of said closure cap whensaid opening in said closure cap is positioned at the select angle fromthe opening in said tube neck in which said cam contacts said outercylindrical part of said closure cap.
 4. The device according to claim1, wherein said means for engaging comprises a protrusion on said tubeneck, said protrusion being disposed against said upper closure plate ofsaid closure cap, wherein said protrusion engages the opening in saidupper closure plate of said closure cap when said opening in saidclosure cap is positioned at the select angle from the opening in saidtube neck in which said cam contacts said outer cylindrical part of saidclosure caps, wherein said upper closure plate includes a central regionwhich deflects when in contact with said protrusion on said tube neck,and wherein said protrusion engages a recess in said closure cap whenthe opening in said closure cap aligns with opening in said tube neck.5. The device according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein the outersurface of said upper closure plate of said closure cap is planar. 6.The device according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein the outer surfaceof said upper closure plate of said closure cap is concave.
 7. Thedevice according to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein the outer surface ofsaid upper closure plate of said closure cap is convex.
 8. The deviceaccording to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, wherein the outer surface of saidouter cylindrical part of said closure cap is polygonal.
 9. The deviceaccording to claim 1, 2, 3, or 4, further including an originalcondition protection means comprising:a ring inserted between the innerand outer cylindrical parts of said closure cap; and a piece of clothconnected to said ring by a rupture link, wherein said piece of cloth ispositioned outside said closure cap; and wherein said ring, said pieceof cloth, and said rupture link have a thickness corresponding with theheight of the recess in said outer cylindrical part of said closure cap.10. The device according to claim 9, wherein said ring and said piece ofcloth of said original condition protection means are cardboard.
 11. Thedevice according to claim 9, wherein said ring of original conditionprotection means includes a strip and said rupture link connects saidpiece of cloth to said strip, and wherein said strip has a thicknesscorresponding to the height of said recess in said outer cylindricalpart of said closure cap.
 12. The device according to claim 11, whereinsaid ring, said trip, and said piece of cloth of said original conditionprotection means are cardboard.